GUYANA’S bid to be a venue for the 2007 Cricket World Cup is on track, as preparations to build a national cricket stadium are ongoing.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr Roger Luncheon at a recent press briefing disclosed that very soon the appointment of a senior functionary will be announced by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Ms Gail Teixeira to manage the construction programme of the cricket stadium as well as the bidding process for Guyana to become a venue of the International Cricket Council (ICC) premier one-day competition.

The HPS reported that a prominent city engineering firm has been appointed to provide technical services to the project.

He also said that Ms Teixeira will soon formally present Guyana’s bid book to lobby for it to become a host country of the World Cup.

Recently, a delegation from India was here to assess the situation here pertaining to the construction of the stadium.

During a recent state visit to India by President Bharrat Jagdeo said an agreement was clinched whereby the Indian government agreed to provide finance and technical assistance for the construction of the stadium.

Included in the agreement is the provision of US$6M grant by the Indian government. (Chamanlall Naipaul)